bottom of the canyon
all the bones
I thought I buried
sticking
out of the sand
down a dirt road
off the map
how deep you have to go
down this canyon
to find the river
when she left
all the things
I wouldn't listen to
became all the things
I didn't know
I only believe
in memories of rainbows
and patches of blue
you are the stone
that skipped
across the water
to the deepest part
of me
I drive
until the houses
turn into junipers
and the street lights
turn into stars
full moon
I take a desert drive
and leave my troubles
right where the coyotes
can find them
listening for coyotes
pawprints
on the moon
allowing myself
to fade into winter
(and then a summer butterfly
lands
inside my head)
the moon
that keeps shrinking as it slides
down the window
when all the things
you do are stars
and I am the sky
the moon and I
stay up all night
swapping stories
we could never
tell the sun
you are
the last piece of cake
in the kitchen
when everyone's asleep
but me
you are the wish
I was going to make
when none of the stars would fall
my boy mind
climbing up the tree
on sparrow songs
in my pocket
a star left over
from last night's kiss
tattered and brown
the last smile
of a wildflower
autumn traffic
all the lights
changing colors
you are the echo
when my heart
is silent
you are
when gravity
lets go